Unexpected Business Strategies That Helped Robot Vacuum Cleaner Best Succeed
How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Robot vacuums will save you time and effort when it comes to cleaning. The best models are capable of picking up dust as well as light debris and cords.
The ones that are more expensive will even sweep your floor, but they can't climb stairs. Find models with smart mapping, real time safety features, and large self-emptying bins.
Best Overall
The top robots in our testing are efficient and user-friendly, and able to cope with the everyday messes. You'll also need a robot that can handle stairs and has good pick-up power on carpets. If you're looking for a robot with additional features, think about an option that incorporates smart vacuum mapping technology or an app that allows you to control it remotely.
Camryn Rabideau is a contributing reviewer and writer for shopping at PEOPLE who has tried dozens of robotic vacuums. She's a big fan of robotic vacuums that offer the greatest convenience, such as self-emptying dustbins and charging docks that automatically empty and refill water tanks for mopping robots. She also enjoys robots that can recognize landmarks such as furniture legs and power cables, so they won't get tripped up when climbing steps.
This Black and Decker robot has a lower score on navigation and has less technology for avoiding objects than the best-rated models. It does however have an ample dust bin that doesn't need frequent emptying and a long battery life. Additionally, it has the ability to schedule cleaning sessions and return to the place where it stopped last and makes it much easier to tackle larger homes. This model is a great choice for pet owners, since it is able to avoid tangled fur and food particles.
In our tests, we discovered that the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra combined a LIDAR (light) sensor which can identify rooms and obstacles using a structured-light sensor that can identify objects as well as detect edges. It can stay clear of the steps, liquid droplets and furniture legs with this combination. It can also save up to four floor plans for future use. It can also pause the cleaning process at any time and pick up where it left off so that you can complete chores while the robot vac works. The included app provides a 3D representation of your home, room labels and more advanced cleaning options.
The robot isn't as good at cleaning as our top models, but it is great in picking up larger items like orzo pasta, metal screws and even fine particles like sand. The only downside is that it's not able to mop, and has a less efficient navigation system.
Best for Carpet
If you have carpeting, select a robot vacuum that has a high score for rug and carpet maneuverability and pickup. Many models do a good job of removing dust that is embedded in carpets with low pile, and several do a good job of cleaning up larger debris such as orzo pasta, metal screws, and pet hair. But they don't pick up fine particles as well as canister or upright vacuums and may also miss ground-in dirt close to baseboards and thresholds.
For carpeted homes, a 2-in-1 robot mop/vacuum is the best choice. It is possible to swap out the cleaning bin for a damp mopping mat. The Roborock Q Revo, for example, vacuums and mops with circular pads that rotate at a rate of 200 rotations per minute. It detects and lifts its pads when it comes into contact with carpet, which prevents the floor from getting wet. You don't need to remove them or replace them each time. The Q Revo is also more efficient than other robot vacuum/mops in avoiding obstacles and getting close to rugs and thresholds.
Another solid option is the iRobot Roomba Combo i5, which did exceptionally well in our tests and can be scheduled via the app to clean when you're away from home. It can be set to only mop. We liked its navigation on floors that are not bare as well as rug. The Combo i5 has a long runtime and excellent path planning for the size of the device.
If you're looking for a advanced model, look into the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop. It comes with a huge dock that can last for weeks without needing to be empty. It also has amazing navigation and auto-emptying capabilities on carpets and bare floors. It also has a smart mapping system and can be programmed to run only during specific hours (a useful feature for keeping pets and children who are prone to mischief from running wild). The Shark isn't as powerful than other budget robot vacuum vacuum/mop combos but it's good at picking up hair and pet hair and is the most affordable of our top picks.
Best for Hard Flooring
Robot vacuums are best for floors made of hardwood, since they can maneuver around obstacles without causing damage to floors that aren't. They are capable of removing dust and crumbs, but they struggle with pet hair and larger debris. They also lack the suction power of an expensive upright or canister vacuum, meaning they're not an ideal choice for carpeted rooms or deep cleaning upholstery.
The best robots are two-in-one, which combine the power of a mop with a vacuum to complete the job in one go. If you have floors that are mixed, look for a model with an onboard sensor which detects changes in the floor's texture and adjusts suction to match. This feature is available on the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ and allows it to move seamlessly from hard carpeting to soft carpeting.
If your home is primarily made up of hardwood floors, consider an automated vacuum and mop combination like the eufy S1 Pro. This model uses a powerful robot vacuum with intelligent navigation to clean hardwood floors and other hard surfaces. Additionally, it has the ability to mop as well. Its sensors allow it to avoid hazards such as stairs.
The eufy S1 Pro mop is designed to clean hardwood floors using downward pressure, not simply swab them in order to remove dirt and dust. The mop pads are reusable, which reduce the amount of waste, and make it less likely to spread germs and can be cleaned in the docking station, saving your time. The mop pads are also able to be washed, dried and used again.
Both the robovac and the mop are both controlled by your smartphone, making it easier to manage the device. You can, for instance utilize the app to create zones where the vacuum cannot enter, label different rooms, or schedule specific cleaning sessions. The eufy S1 Pro has an auto-emptying port that collects debris via trapdoors, and then stores it into a bagless robot vacuum or disposable bin. This means you don't need to empty the bin manually as often as you do with other models.
Best suited for small Spaces
These robots are made to work in small spaces. They have smaller bins that can store less garbage. They are also more efficient when it comes to moving around corners more efficiently than larger models. They can also fit underneath furniture that larger robots can't reach. They are also less expensive than more expensive models, but you'll need to empty their dirt bins manually at the end each cleaning session.
A couple of years ago, robotic vacuums underwent a major transformation when manufacturers began adding sensors to help navigate and avoid household objects that their traditional sensors would become stuck on or over. These improvements reduced the number times our testers had to clean up after a robotic snag.
The new sensors aren't completely eliminating all issues with these devices, however. The lower-end models are not able to traverse the same obstacles as the older models, and require some level of illumination in order to be able to see where they're going. Look into a model that uses a spinning LIDAR unit placed on top of the model to create maps of the area. Our top model and the runners-up have this feature. This will allow them to stay clear of stairs and other obstacles while working in the dark.
These models can be programmed to only utilize their cliff sensors when they are on or near the ground, and not when they are above it. It's important to cover mirrors in order to stop this from happening. The lasers used by LIDAR-based models can bounce off reflective surfaces, causing the robot to think it's in a different space.
A few of the models we recommend allow you to create virtual no-go zones for areas where you do not want the robot to move, which is useful if you have small children or pets. These features aren't present on all models we test. Read our full reviews before making your choice.